Should we construct a purpose-built village as temporary lodgings for people returning to New Zealand? Photo / Hayden Woodward
With safer MIQ facilities becoming more and more important as we become secure enough to open up to the world, why don't we start thinking of building a small village for quarantining purposes to house people coming into the country?
Moving them a little north of Auckland, but, not too far from hospitals, would be an advantageous and safer option.
Later it could become a much-needed housing option, available immediately, when up-and-coming climate carnage leaves people homeless.
Building near the northern railway line would also allow for a station to be built, so easy rail transport becomes available.
This village could become a desirable place to live and pay for itself in the future. It would certainly be cheaper than scrambling too late after a disaster.
Shops, cinemas and other facilities will be another choice for the business community to pursue. Who knows, another Hobsonville Pt?
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
Pulling together
Seeing photos and videos of events such as the recent West Auckland floods what always stands out is how people pull together, put aside their own comfort to help others or make a huge effort to provide food and necessities for those in need.
It gives one an optimistic view of humanity.
Anne Martin, Helensville
Overexposed region
The fact that Tāmaki Makaurau has been in lockdown more than any other location is not a conundrum, enigma or puzzle.
Overexposure to the virus due to the number of MIQs and quarantine facilities located in the city compared to the rest of the motu is the issue.
Stop blaming Pasifika and stop putting them in the lion's den.
To shift the issue elsewhere seems to be the conundrum, so currently, the only answer is to prioritise vaccinations where the need is greatest.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Flawed solution
Christine Keller Smith's letter (NZ Herald, September 1) gave her solution to MIQ as we know it: Paid for home self-isolation.
It had more than one fallacy. Fully vaccinated is not fully immune yet. MIQ still fails when travellers return, so too will private homes. The potential cost swamps the risk to lives.
Living with the virus has risks. Money can never buy a life back all the lives put at risk to the spouse, father, mother, brother and sister and children of these nurses required at each returnees room.
Even fully vaccinated people can get Covid and pass it on. The risk is increasing as Covid mutates (but even Delta is hard) and the number of people wanting to travel into the world increases. The latest variant C1.2 mutates 1.8 times faster. So how does money pay for the increased risk to an extremely limited number of nurses and their whanau?
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
Post-jab world
At the current rate of vaccinations, we should be all done by December, according to my crude maths. I don't believe there is a supply issue; political spin and a sense of control is all that is at play there.
Does anyone know what the plan is then? It seems prudent that we know this quite soon.
Is it fair to assume that a level four lockdown will not be required?
Once the vaccines are done, I can't imagine Auckland will do another level four lockdown, and I can't blame them for that.
John Ford, Taradale.
Better example
Interviewer Indira Stewart was perfectly entitled to ask Judith Collins why she felt it necessary to fly to Wellington for a Parliamentary meeting that could have been just as easily been held virtually (NZ Herald, September 2).
There are any number of fully vaccinated, isolated essential workers who are required to work from home.
There was absolutely no need, other than to prove some vague, egregious point, to suggest her attendance was vital to our country's welfare.
As to why the PM wasn't asked the same question, as far as I am aware, Jacinda Ardern has been in Wellington for the whole time and is entitled, as an essential worker, to travel the few kilometres to work, vastly different than commuting from Auckland.
If a Government minister had done the same as Ms Collins, she and her party would be demanding a contrite apology or, more likely, dismissal.
Of all the people who should be setting an example of how to behave during a pandemic, surely the leader of the Opposition should rate very highly on the list.
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.
Talked over
I am a Labour voter and not a supporter of Judith Collins. I watched Indira Stewart's insensitive interview with Judith on TV1's "Breakfast" (NZ Herald, September 2).
I cringed at the interviewer's style as she talked over Collins, who was forced to say: "You are asking the question and answering it at the same time."
We deserve better-developed interview skills and more considerate interviews on national television.
Sarah Beck, Devonport.
A masterpiece
During World War II and for nearly 50 years of his life, Sir Gordon Minhinnick entertained NZ Herald readers through some very difficult times in their lives.
New Zealanders are again at war, but this time with a virus. Again it is a NZ Herald cartoonist who is helping lift spirits, and in colour which was unavailable to Minhinnick.
Thank you Rod Emmerson for another masterpiece (NZ Herald, September 1) of the Leader of the Opposition, and her little helper, "floating their boat" as effectively as only they know how.
Norman Harris, Tauranga.
Who's grandstanding?
Emmerson's cartoon (NZ Herald, September 1) shouts that Judith Collins is "grandstanding in a pandemic" because Opposition parties support recalling Parliament.
Can we have a cartoon now of the Prime Minister standing at the "podium of truth" grandstanding in a pandemic?
June Kearney, West Harbour.
Better off here
Brooke van Velden's article (NZ Herald, September 1) instinctively blames the Government for our under-30s missing out on good experiences.
There are hundreds of other countries too where the youngsters are in the same boat, if not in worse.
As for saying our kids will leave for "normal life offshore" - on the contrary, the only normal life I see is that of life in New Zealand. Where will our kids go?
Be proud of what we have and what we've achieved in the last 18 months of the pandemic instead of trying to blame it on the Government.
Caetano Fernandes, Albany.
Housing mystery
Housing consents are at an 80-year high.
Why has none of this frenzied house-building resulted in affordable homes for the average New Zealand income earner, let alone first home buyers?
Who is buying all these newly built houses?
J Leighton, Devonport.
Kitchen sync
I cannot believe how many cannot wait to get their hands on takeaways. People on talkback, TV/radio commentators all slabbering about their favourite junk food.
We should use this time to cook all those time-consuming dishes we usually don't cook
A banquet we served up in the weekend was amazing, a couple of us in the kitchen, cutting, chopping, a few brews, great times for the family.
S P McMonagle, Greenhithe.
Water upheaval
Your correspondent Georgina Campbell (NZ Herald, September 1) notes that many councils are opposed to the Three Waters Reform proposal or want more information from the Minister of Local Government before making a decision. But she is wrong to think it is appropriate for Nanaia Mahuta to "call time on diplomacy".
Contamination of one badly installed water bore in a district that did not chlorinate its water is hardly reason for the massive upheaval and redistribution of assets that this proposal would entail.
In March this year, the Herald published an article by John Robertson in which he outlined what appears to be a much better option to fix the problems than the two provided by Minister Mahuta. Robertson's suggestion is for the Crown to establish a "Three Waters" advisory and capital works funding agency, the expertise and resources of which could be called upon by councils when considering new investment options or upgrades. Under such a model the Crown could contribute funding for capital works in a similar way the NZ Transport Agency does for council roads.
Removing infrastructure assets and service responsibilities from councils and giving them to monopolies is not the right solution.
Keith Hay, Katikati-Waihi Beach Residents & Ratepayers Association.
Short & sweet
On demand
The PM's remarks (NZ Herald, August 31) of no problem with supply; simply too much demand brings to mind Donald Trump [saying] when statistics showed far too many Covid cases to "reduce the number of tests". Des Trigg, Rothesay Bay.
On National
Until National gets rid of this tone-deaf leader, they won't ever get out of being an irrelevant Opposition. Peter Wharton, Pt Chevalier.
On vaccination
On proof of vaccination question (NZ Herald, September 1), take a photo of your vaccine card with your phone and the problem of losing it has been resolved. Linda Ross, Bethlehem.
On perspective
Let's get to the KFC drive-through early. Then we can race home to see what's happening in Afghanistan. Mark Lewis-Wilson, Mangonui.
On Paralympics
Watching the Paralympics has made me wonder what the blazes I've got to complain about – inspirational. Warwick Maxwell, St Heliers.
On interest
Perhaps we should publish a places-of-no-interest list? We could elevate the slow rollout vaccination whingers currently running viral in the Beehive and letters to the Herald as first. Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
This is a disgraceful breach of trust by this Government, in that it has not honoured the undertakings given by it and previous governments to locally employed Afghans as to their safety. Andrew R.
New Zealand has been well served by its decision to bring the Tampa refugees to New Zealand. This is another such opportunity. While the problem may be large, that is no reason for NZ not to make its small contribution. Fendall H.
We need to use immigration to increase the population in New Zealand. How good would it be to give some very deserving Afghans a new home and a better chance at life. They are people who have proven themselves and are prepared to work, just what we need. Gail S.
As someone who served in Afghanistan, I can attest that New Zealand did not promise to repatriate those Afghans who worked with us. There was no such commitment, the relationship was one of being a (well) paid contractor to the NZDF. That we did bring the interpreters back in 2013 was good, but there is a limit to what we can realistically do now. Rory M.
"New Zealand must keep speaking out". No, we shouldn't. We should do what a small insignificant dot on the map on the other side of the world should do. Tidy up its own house and help out its neighbours. The Pacific is our area of interest. Robert H.
Your heart may be in the right place Josie but, at the moment New Zealand's debt is higher than it has been and people are crying poverty in our own country through Covid-19 and job losses attributed to it. Charity begins at home, my parents taught me, and more of it than ever is required here. We have done our bit for Afghanistan, including spilling blood for them, so I believe it is time for the people of the world to stand up for themselves. Allen S.
As the year draws to a close, Waikato Herald is taking stock of 2024.